Is THIS The New Fountain Of Youth?

The natural solution for a youthful appearance is simple: Boost your skin’s collagen levels. Figuring out how to do it is a little tougher, though a constant array of wild new products—drinkable collagen, anyone?—purport to work miracles. The unfortunate fact is that our bodies produce less collagen, a naturally occurring protein, as we age. The result? Thinner skin, fine lines, and dryness.

Now, UK researchers may have found a solution in sea cucumbers. Yup, you read that right. These leathery animals, found on the ocean floor, actually have a peptide formed from collagen that softens their body’s wall tissue as a defense from predators.

“They can control their collagenous tissue in ways that we can’t,” says lead study author Maurice Elphick, PhD, a professor of physiology and neuroscience at Queen Mary University of London. “We need to do more research to see if these peptides could have a similar affect in mammals.” If so, this research could lead to new skin care products down the line.

While you wait for the collagen fix of the future, Amy Taub, MD, a dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology in Illinois, has a few ideas to help freshen your skin—now.

Ask your dermatologist about CO2RE ($1,250-3,500, depending on the facial area; dermatologist offices nationwide). “This laser will eradicate sun spots, diminish scars and wrinkles, and boost collagen,” Dr. Taub says. You’ll see dramatic results after a single treatment, though it’ll entail two weeks of redness, and one week without makeup.

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